Watery Diarrhea in a Feline

According to PetPlace.com, watery diarrhea is result of excessive water in a cat's feces. Watery diarrhea can result in dehydration and loss of vital minerals and nutrients; therefore, it is extremely important to address your cat's diarrhea right away.

  1. The Facts

    • In cats, diarrhea is typically determined as either acute or chronic. According to PetPlace.com, acute diarrhea is characterized as runny, watery stool that has lasted for less than three weeks. Chronic diarrhea is runny, watery stool that has been affecting the cat for longer than three weeks. If left untreated, acute diarrhea can result in an electrolyte disturbance, as well as an acid-base imbalance. Untreated chronic diarrhea can leave a feline with a poor coat, loss of body condition and can affect the cat's activity levels.

    Symptoms

    • Watery diarrhea is usually very loose stool with an extremely runny consistency. It is possible for the diarrhea to also contain blood, says Dr. Holly Nash of Doctors Foster &Smith. If the stool is bloody, it may appear black or tarry, or you may see bright-red blood in the feces. Because diarrhea causes a sudden urgency to eliminate, cats with this issue may not always make it to the litter box in time and have accidents throughout the home.

    Causes

    • Acute and chronic diarrhea have many probable causes, including the ingestion of inappropriate materials, an allergy or intolerance to certain components in the diet and certain conditions of the bowel, states PetPlace.com. In addition, infectious agents, including those that are bacterial, viral, parasitic and fungal in nature, can also cause diarrhea. Chronic diarrhea can also count inflammatory bowel disease, gastrointestinal cancer and systemic illnesses as causes.

    Diagnosis

    • Your cat's veterinarian will likely run a few different tests to determine what is causing the watery diarrhea. The doctor will check the cat's stool for parasites and bacteria. The vet may also take radiographs of the cat's stomach to look for any blockages, growths or abnormalities in the intestine. In addition, the doctor may perform blood tests to monitor the cat's organs, or may recommend the use of ultrasound therapy to further study the cat's stomach and intestine.

    Treatment

    • The course of treatment depends upon the cause of the watery diarrhea. For instance, if parasites are the culprit, the doctor will prescribe deworming medication, states Dr. Nash. If bacteria is causing the diarrhea, the doctor will likely treat the cat with antibiotics. A cat with irritable bowel syndrome is often placed on maintenance medication and given a special diet. Your cat's veterinarian will tailor the treatment based on the health of your cat.